Change Your Lifestyle. Change Your Life. – How You Can Get Involved

Now that you know more about prediabetes and preventing type 2 diabetes, find a program near you so you can get the support you need to change your lifestyle and change your life. If you live in one of the counties below, contact our partner organization to enroll in a Change Your Lifestyle. Change Your Life. (CYL²) class. Some of our partners have funding to offer the program at no cost to you. Others offer the program through either public or private health insurance (e.g.; Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medicaid, Medicare) or self-pay. You can visit their websites for more information or contact the coordinator listed below:

While anyone meeting the CDC eligibility guidelines can enroll in the program, BWHI places special emphasis on recruiting Blacks and Hispanics, 25-34 and 65 and older. The program is covered by private health insurance and Medicaid in some states and it is covered by Medicare in all.

How does the lifestyle change program work?

Phase 1: Core – Weekly One-Hour Meetings for 4 Months

Focuses on helping participants build the basic skills related to healthy eating and physical activity (i.e.; monitoring food and weight; learning how to eat less fat and fewer calories; making food substitutions; and how to be more active).

Addresses how participants can best deal with things in their environment that stand in the way of lifestyle change (i.e.; understanding cues and food triggers; changing bad habits; and problem-solving; ordering healthy when eating out).

Participants who were not able to meet their weight loss and physical activity goals during the Core phase use these sessions to continue working toward their goals.

Participants who did meet their weight loss and physical activity goals, but have regained weight or “slipped” back into old habits after the Core phase ended use these sessions to get back on track.

Participants who did meet their goals and are continuing with their new lifestyle changes started during the Core phase use these sessions to set new goals or to focus on how to maintain their new habits for a lifetime.